by David Scott Robertson
"Silence can seal a fate but it does not prove guilt or innocence.” –DSR
Jesus stood before His accusers, silent.
He did not respond to their railing accusations.
Think about it.
It is contrary to nearly everything I read, saw, heard and did while growing up.
In our society today,
The perception is that if you don’t speak up and defend yourself,
Or hire a lawyer to speak on your behalf,
You’re probably guilty.
When someone takes the 5th Amendment,
The “right to remain silent”,
It is usually taken so as not to incriminate oneself.
Like a police officer reading an arrested man his rights,
“Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.”
The Bible teaches us, “Even a fool appears wise when silent” (Proverbs 17:28).
And the world unwittingly uses this principle to its own legal advantage.
The Kingdom of God, however, does not operate like the kingdom of men.
Jesus stands before us in the Scriptures as a man of through integrity.
His position of silence preaches volumes about self-control,
Faith in His Father,
Trust in the Scriptures that cannot be broken,
And humility.
The reason I marvel at Christ as He stands before Pilate in the Gospels
Is that His response to personal attack is so different from what I was
Taught, modeled and socialized in my American youth.
Not sticking up for yourself was as sign of weakness
In the neighborhood in Chicago where I grew up.
Not “looking out for #1” meant that nobody else was going to do it for you.
But there is an “opposite world” that is more real than the one you and I live in.
It is the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, who blazed a trail of “Follow Me” to access Father God.
Paul followed Him and then went on to write,
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV).
And now it’s our turn.
What will you do, the next time someone brings a railing accusation against you publicly or privately?
Many offenses will come, it is inevitable.
Your reaction, though, is your responsibility.
Someone once remarked,
“It’s not what happens to you, but in you that counts.”
My goal, in light of Jesus’ example, is to imitate Him.
As the Lamb remained silent before the slaughter,
So I want to remain silent and not feel compelled to defend myself.
We see the mudslinging and defensive postures in political campaigns and debates.
But are we much better in the Church?
Sometimes yes; and sadly, sometimes no.
Silence. It goes a long way in private devotions with God,
And it can go a long way in public relations with others.
The Spirit of God inspired a wise Christian to remark:
“Preach all the time and if necessary use words.”
Amen, brother.
DSR, September 16, 1998